This was different, fast paced and it grabs you from the start! I feel like the description of the book could definitely be better, I dont think it really quite "gets you there" as far as the magic and situation..The book itself, chefs kiss 100%! maybe consider revamping the description so it hits the target audience better.

Woah! This was soo good! For fans of Criminal Minds and Practical Magic, this is the book for you. Leona and Jewel Spencer are two witches who live and work in the same small town. Leona can see and talk to ghosts and Jewel can whip up curses and spells. When a girl goes missing and the sherif asks for their help, the sisters use their talents to find her. This book is gory, funny, and mysterious. There is a little romance but not a lot. My only complaint about this book other than one or two plot holes was the accents. The town in in Ames, Iowa but the accents written in are wildly all over the place. I have friends from Ames and I know they sound nothing like this 50s or not. It definitely threw me off and made me think the book was set in Louisiana and not Iowa. Otherwise this book was a great fast mystery perfect for a magic lover!

Rating: 4/5
I received eARC for my honest opinion.

This book follows two sisters, who are witches and they both are completely different with the way that they use and see magic. You will see them with their everyday lives, and how they help out their little Appalachian town. You will go with the sister as they try to figure out a brutal murder, that ends up becoming 3 brutal murders. You will see magic, supernatural creatures, and get to watch the sisters grow and learn more about themselves. It is set in the 1950’s, so you will see a lot of references about the war but while reading the book you will just have a view of how everything was done in the 50’s.

I liked the plot of this book; I found the paranormal aspects of this book to be well done and interesting how the author would introduce new characters that are supernatural to you. I liked the magic system and found it to be what I would expect from herbs and learning to channel magic. I did at times find that there were a few slower parts of the book but once you get past that it does pick up and it does not stop until the end. I found the characters to be interesting.

I don’t know if I can say that I was able to connect with the main characters that well, mainly Jewel I found an instant connection with her, but with Leona I had a harder time with. Leona is from an era that didn’t really treat women that well. She is stuck in a loveless, abusive marriage too and drunk who doesn’t care if he beats her or their child. Leona’s daughter is cute, but at the same time she has some behavioral issues but that is understandable when you see the life that she is living. Leona does everything, she works two jobs to support her family and she does a little magical spell for extra money. Jewel is married to someone who she doesn’t love and wouldn’t mind if he passed away already. She has even thought about helping him along from time to time, but she is doing a little better than her sister. I loved that they had different views on magic and how to use it, I don’t think one of them is right but it’s all about the intent when using it. I found the character development to be well done and it was nice to see Leona at the end of the book.

I want to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Pub for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, LLC & NetGalley for this ARC of Root and Bone in return for my honest review.

This book follows the adventures of two witchy sisters, Leona and Jewel, who live in a small Appalachian town. When a girl is murdered, the two sisters set out to find the culprit and solve the mystery. This book is dialogue heavy, with a Southern accent undertone. I did manage to make it 50% in because the characters are pretty likable and the magic descriptions were pretty great. Sadly I started noticing some redundant sentences and noticed myself skimming, so I decided to abandon the book. It just didn't keep my attention.

This would probably be a good book for readers that love Witchy, Southern mystery themes. Overall, the author's writing is readable and the characters likable, I just couldn't stay interested in the plot.

I was really excited for this book but I had a really hard time getting through this book…I was struggling with the characters . I really felt is was hard to get through the beginning of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

If you seek a gritty, atmospheric story with strong female leads, "Root and Bone" by Jessica Raney will undoubtedly draw you in. Set in post-WWII Appalachia, the novel follows two witch sisters unraveling a string of grisly murders. The world feels authentic, and the sisters' dynamic is heartwarming and relatable.

While Raney's writing is evocative, the story's pacing can feel inconsistent, and the ending may leave you wanting more. Additionally, some sensitive readers may find the themes of abuse quite heavy. However, for fans of the genre, the engaging characters and a well-crafted supernatural mystery make it a worthwhile read. Thanks to NetGalley, Jessica Raney and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #RootandBone #NetGalley

I thought this book was well done! I loved the premise, gritty small working class town where nothing happens until a body is found. What could be more atmospheric than that? I also loved the supernatural and dark elements woven into this story. The Appalachian lore also made this book extra spooky!!

I received an ARC of this book in return for a fair review, and I’m so glad of it! I enjoyed this much much more than I expected to.

We follow sisters Leona and Jewel who are 1) witches and 2) practically polar opposites. The dynamic is intriguing and believable throughout and I really enjoyed reading their back and forth. It took a while for Leona to grow on me, but I really enjoyed her character arc. Dorval and Kay? Wholesome and wonderful. Jewel? Iconic.

The story kept me hooked throughout with the intrigue of what was happening to those poor girls and why, and what would become of the ghosts.

Sometimes, the way that magic interacted with society didn’t feel completely coherent, and I never got a solid idea of what was a secret and what wasn’t. The explanation for why the girls had been murdered also felt very… meh. But aside from that, this was a really enjoyable read and I’ll definitely be picking up any sequels that may arise!

Definitely recommend if you like a true-crime fantasy feel with witches, ghouls, and all manner of magic and monsters.

Listen- I love all things Appalachia because I find this area equally terrifying and amazing. This book did not disappoint. The nonstop action and suspense with the mix of mythical creatures was absolutely perfect. This is my first book by Jessica Raney and I know she will already be an auto buy author for me. I'm recommending this to all of my fantasy friends & booking a trip to Appalachia now!

This book was well paced and had dark and gritty themes. It was extremely dialogue heavy which for me isn’t what I look for in a book, a better balance between description and dialogue could go a long way. The relationship between the sisters was well established but I did feel surrounding characters weren’t fleshed out enough for me to grasp a full picture.

Overall I felt this book was ok, but I didn’t enjoy the abuse that takes place. Although I understand sometimes authors like to delve into abuse to get an emotional understanding. I just didn’t think it was written in enough context and reflection for me. It made me uncomfortable at times and that largely ruined the book for me.

2.5/5 ⭐️

I actually DNF'd this book and it was one of the first books that I have done so.

I was really excited for this book and I might have to go back and try it again but it was just not hitting right. I loved the idea but I had a hard time getting into and connecting with the characters. I loved that it took place in the past but I just really had a hard time with it.

I definitely want to go back and try again but it might be a few months before I try to read it again.

Root and Bone by Jessica Raney was an entertaining read. I loved the setting and the way magic and creatures from folklore were interwoven into it, and most of all I enjoyed the voice. The narrative voice and the dialogue really made the 1950's Appalachian setting come to life.

Our protagonist, Leona has a lot on her plate. Due to the era, she's trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage to an unemployed drunkard who has no qualms with sabotaging her efforts to keep them afloat. Their young child has behavioural issues and is neglected while Leona is stuck working two jobs (and a magical side hustle) to support the family. Also Leona sees dead people.

Root and Bone dodges the usual trope of “I see Dead people and it’s so annoying!” with Leona. She doesn’t mind seeing dead people, if anything it makes her feel special and rather than try to ignore the spirits, she tries to help them pass on and find peace.

That is until one of Leona’s clients (love spells, charms, that sort of things) goes missing and Leona starts seeing a different type of ghost, one more interested in violence than peace. It seems a murderer with a dramatic flair for the occult has come to their small Appalachian town and with the sheriff well over his head, Leona and her sassy sister Jewel are the only ones equipped to deal with the supernatural threat endangering their town

I found the pacing of this to be comfortable. It’s a very dialogue heavy book. There isn’t much in the way of description or action beats. The characterisation is one dimensional, especially the male characters. Which is fine, this isn’t literary.

Root and Bone is the kind of book that would be perfect for a bingeworthy Netflix adaptation. It’s fun… which considering the decapitation and dark topics it covers might be a bit odd to say, but nevertheless it is. And best, despite its series potential it is a stand alone novel with a clear resolution.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I really wanted to like this book more. The description sounded so good, and I love historical fantasies, so I did like that it takes place in the past. Overall it seemed like a good storyline, and I really liked the idea of using witchcraft to help solve a murder, but I had some issues getting into reading it. I ended up dnf-ing about a third of the way through, since I just couldn’t connect with it, but I might try reading it again in the future since I like the premise.

I felt that there were things missing that would have made it a better and more captivating read. One of the things I had trouble with was the setting - there were a lot of aspects of the setting that weren’t explained super detailed, but seemed to be important to know about in order to fully understand the context of the story. (This could be due to me not being super familiar with Appalachian lore/stores, but I do wish there was a bit more context in general). I also had trouble connecting to the characters. It felt like I didn’t really know much about them, or about how they fit into the town.

This book was a cute read. It takes place in the mid 1900's and is 3rd person, which I typically stay away from but this book kept my interest. The dialog was accurate for the south (assuming that's where the story takes place) back then and I found it added a lot of depth to the story.
The sisters investigate a string of murders that appear to be caused by a supernatural entity. They're faced with many challenges and while the sisters are night and day, they use their differences to overcome them.
I do think they use their magic a little too freely, especially given the time period, and the ending seemed a bit rushed. But, all in all, this was a good read!

The dialougue in this book is what made it worth reading. The accent was very pronounced and I feel that helped make the characters. The story did feel a bit rushed at parts, but overall it was enjoyable. If the author could have given a better idea of the time when this takes place it would have made the story that much better.

It was a surprise that this book takes place in the past. I generally don’t like books that do, and I didn’t know that when I requested this one. One of the reasons that I don’t like it is present in this book. Women are not treated well, and they mostly must take it. It angers me, and sometimes takes me out of the story. This is all very much a personal preference. It is a testament to this author that I enjoyed this anyway. Jewel and Leona are interesting characters who I don’t agree with sometimes in the decisions they make, but I do understand why they do. This is a fascinating and different look at folkloric/country magic, and while there were a lot of missing details i.e. where in the country, when in the past, and more physical details about the characters, I really did enjoy this. I will probably pick up the next one, if there is one, which says something. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Thank you, NetGalley, Jessica Raney, and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for the eARC copy of Root and Bone.

This is a good witchy read set in the time around the 1950s in a small town. Women start going missing and murdered. In comes our two female main characters, Leona and Jewel, who are witches and also sisters. The vibes of those two gave off Practical Magic vibes, and I was loving it!

Leona and Jewel knew that something wasn't right with these murders and decide to investigate it and find that there is a supernatural force behind them.

While investigating these murders they run into multiple dangers.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I hope in the next book we get to see more of Cale and Leona and Peggy. I would really like to know the backstory of Peggy. I would really like to know if Peggy can see ghost and talk to them like her mom or if she can just sense them like her aunt Jewel. Eager to find out!

Closer to the end of the book, I felt like things were flying at us (the readers), and it was a bit hard to stay focused with so much coming at us at once and became confusing.

Also, please read the CW's before diving in. ♡

Overall found it a good starting point to a series, as there's many aspects that need deeper/more detailed building, as do the characters in general, which maybe will develop as the series advances.
This book left me curious throughout, but I felt like the curiosity was never sated.

The main thing I struggled with on this book was the pace, which feels too slow and too fast at different times in the book.

The actual rating is 3.75 ⭐️

I enjoyed this book. I really liked the setting and the storyline, especially the relationship between Leona and her sister Jewel.

The plot was engaging, kinda thrillery. I hope to be able to continue the series to see where it will end up.

I loved the witchy vibes and the folkloric elements involved.

Definitely check the trigger warnings before.

Thank you Net Galley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read it in advance 🙏

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

So this was a book I was really excited for but didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

I think a main pitfall for me was that none of the characters were likable - except Cale. Everyone was hateful, even our heroines. The way people and places were described was just negative. I didn’t attach to or care about anything. Except the one ghost.

Some aspects felt rushed while some were a bit drawn out. I often got to a point where I understood the world created and then something changed. This did read and end like a first book of a series, so that may be why things felt unfinished. If it’s a series then there will be space for the unanswered questions to be wrapped up!

It was decently paced and didn’t lull much, which makes it a fairly easy read. I did enjoy the little bit of romance involved - that was a lovely piece of light in an otherwise darker backdrop. There was a lot of blatant abuse and mistreatment of women that was likely consistent with the time period but it was a bit much for me.

I enjoyed aspects and am glad I read it but I’d suggest checking trigger warnings and maybe combing through some reviews before picking this up for yourself!